STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2800

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2285

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2285, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the administration of the State Health Planning and Development Agency.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Amends the functions and duties of the State Health Planning and Development Agency;

(2) Inserts a new definition of "health care" into relevant law; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for administrative costs and eight new full-time equivalent positions within the State Health Planning and Development Agency.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Executive Office on Aging, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawaii Primary Care Association, AARP Hawaii, AlohaCare, and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee recognizes that many of Hawaii's residents lack equitable access to high-quality and affordable health and long-term care services. Your Committee finds that modernizing the State Health Planning and Development Agency's functions and duties will advance the State's ability to provide necessary care to residents in a cost-effective manner.

Your Committee notes that the State Health Planning and Development Agency has stated that it needs $1,933,435 for fiscal year 2024-2025 for administrative costs relating to the measure, including the following seven new positions:

(1) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative specialist IV position;

(2) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) research statistician VI position, who shall serve as a state healthcare informaticist;

(3) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) research statistician V positions, who shall serve as administrative data specialists;

(4) Two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) program specialist V positions, who shall serve as state health planners; and

(5) One full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative officer VI position, who shall serve as the contracts management, procurement, and human resources officer of the agency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2285, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2285, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair